By Tiffany Williams –
New York City Council member Chi Ossé, a close ally of Zohran Mamdani, is privately discussing a run against House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, sources familiar with the talks told NewsTalk New England.
Ossé, 27, backed Mamdani in the mayoral primary and has a huge social media presence, which Mamdani has cited as a major influence on his campaign.
Any attempt by Ossé to challenge Jeffries, one of the most powerful Democrats in the nation, could deepen the divide in the party over age and ideology.
Ossé has spoken with progressive groups about potentially running in the Democratic primary next year. The discussions are early, but some organizations have shown interest in supporting an insurgent campaign. Progressives have eyed taking on Jeffries before but lacked a candidate to rally around. Another potential contender, state Sen. Jabari Brisport, has ruled out a run.
Progressives see an opening after Mamdani won his congressional district in the New York mayoral primary. Many are frustrated that Jeffries has yet to endorse Mamdani over former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and has criticized some of Mamdani’s rhetoric about Israel. Jeffries’ team has already warned potential challengers, threatening to target democratic socialists in the state legislature if they pursue his congressional seat.
Ossé, a former Black Lives Matter activist whose direct-to-camera videos have drawn millions of views, could present a serious challenge in Jeffries’ Brooklyn district. Mamdani said this year that Ossé and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez “showed me the power of communication without an intermediary, because ultimately our campaign is about having a politics of no translation.” On the City Council, Ossé passed the FARE Act, which eliminated broker fees for renters last year.
Ossé is a darling of progressive media. The New Yorker has featured his living room, GQ has showcased his personal style, and New York magazine highlighted his “Why Sh*t Not Working” web series addressing city problems. The Democratic base’s frustration with leadership after 2024 has emboldened younger progressives to challenge more incumbents. A Reuters/Ipsos poll in June found 62 percent of Democrats want new leadership. Several younger Democrats have launched campaigns against older House members, fueling a generational and ideological shift in the party.
Ossé’s potential challenge to Jeffries represents more than a single congressional race. It signals a broader push by younger progressives in New York and New England to reshape the Democratic Party, forcing established leaders to contend with rising calls for generational change and new policy priorities. If Ossé runs, his campaign could become a test case for how far the progressive insurgency can reach within the party, influencing not just Brooklyn politics but the trajectory of Democratic leadership across the region.
This is a fight already drawing attention from both local and national media. Observers say the coming months could see progressive activists, elected officials, and voters across New York City mobilize around Ossé, making his potential run one of the most watched intraparty battles of the next election cycle.